Terrorism

Chronology of Coverage

Feb. 27, 2015

British man Mohammed Emwazi is identified as masked Islamic State fighter called 'Jihadi John,' who presided over Islamic State beheading in 2014 video; Emwazi was living normal life as computer science student in London as recently as 2009, but came to attention of British intelligence services in May of that year; question of how Emwazi was radicalized, and whether British intelligence was at fault, has become subject of intense debate. MORE

Feb. 27, 2015

Arrest of Akhror Saidakhmetov, Abdurasul Hasanovich Juraboev and Abror Habibov represents first case in New York City of people plotting to travel overseas to join Islamic State; authorities say three men fit no particular profile, illustrating challenges facing law enforcement in determining credible threats. MORE

Feb. 27, 2015

Khaled al-Fawwaz, Saudi man accused of close association with Osama bin Laden, is convicted of involvement in plot to kill Americans worldwide and of helping plan 1998 bombings of United States Embassies in Tanzania and Kenya; verdict is likely to support Obama administration's assertion that terrorism cases can be tried in American courts. MORE

Feb. 27, 2015

Terrorism suspect Abid Naseer presents arguments in his own defense during trial in Brooklyn courtroom, appearing competent and organized for most of two day period before his arguments begin to unravel; prosecution argues that email of alleged friend is that of Al Qaeda operative and that women's names used in correspondence are code in bombing plot. MORE

Feb. 26, 2015

United States embassy in Jordan warns American citizens to avoid shopping malls in capital of Amman for several days due to threat of terrorist attacks. MORE

Feb. 26, 2015

Op-Ed article by policy expert Mary Lewis Grow presents evidence that current laws do little to prevent firearms and explosives from falling into the hands of domestic terrorists; calls on legislators to widen category of prohibited purchasers to include those on terror watch list. MORE

Feb. 25, 2015

Five officers from British intelligence agency MI5 testify at trial of accused Al Qaeda operative Abid Naseer in Brooklyn while wearing disguises; recount surveillance of defendant conducted in Manchester, England; evidence does not appear to be damning. MORE

Feb. 24, 2015

Kenyan officials warn that Western travel warnings about dangers of nation's coast are contributing to collapse of tourism industry, which in turn will lead to joblessness, poverty and desperation that are kindling for terrorism; officials cite in particular American travel warnings, which they say are needlessly broad, whereas other Western nations' warnings are more nuanced. MORE

Feb. 24, 2015

Manhattan jury finds Palestinian Authority and Palestinian Liberation Organization liable for their role in six terrorist attacks in Israel from 2002 to 2004, which killed and injured Americans; award of $218.5 million in damages is tripled under special terrorism law to $655.5 million, ending decade-long legal battle; Palestinian groups say they will appeal. MORE

Feb. 24, 2015

French authorities seize passports of six citizens suspected of trying to go to Syria for terrorist activities and are preparing travel bans for 40 more; new law allows imposition of six-month travel ban, which can be extended for up to two years, on suspected terrorists. MORE

Feb. 24, 2015

Australian Prime Min Tony Abbott announces national counterterrorism strategy that includes revoking citizenship or curbing rights of Australians involved in terrorist activity as well as tightening laws on immigration and hate speech. MORE

Feb. 23, 2015

Homeland Security Sec Jeh Johnson issues warning about shoppers visiting Mall of America outside Minneapolis after Somalian extremist group Shabab makes threats against mall, as well as other major shopping areas, in video posted online. MORE

Feb. 21, 2015

Gulf Cooperation Council, in possible indication of discord in region, withdraws statement that defended Qatar against Egypt's accusation of supporting terrorism. MORE

Feb. 20, 2015

Muslim communities across United States are moving quickly to counteract spread of violent extremism, especially the influence of Islamic State propaganda; have initiated dialogues and organized prevention programs, focusing particularly on young, alienated Muslim men who are considered most vulnerable to ISIS; many imams are working with police and government organizations despite fear that they will be contributing to anti-Muslim profiling and bigotry. MORE

Feb. 20, 2015

News Analysis; Pres Obama's global call to renew united front against terrorism, especially by focusing on human rights, tolerance and dialogue, highlights fundamental tension that has plagued struggle since it began in 2001; strategic realities, especially in relation to the Islamic State, have forced Obama to cooperate with repressive governments that are responsible for the brutal conditions he cites as a major cause of terrorism. MORE

Feb. 20, 2015

Many people in Denmark are questioning whether Omar Abdel Hamid El-Hussein's deadly rampage was motivated by Islam or whether his claim serves as cover for inherent violent criminality; link between Islam and violence is being heavily debated both in Europe and in the United States after string of deadly attacks perpetrated by angry Muslim youth. MORE

Feb. 20, 2015

White House does not invite FBI director James Comey to conference on preventing violent extremism at home and abroad, reportedly because administration does not want to focus too heavily on law enforcement issues; omission raises questions about who is leading anti-terrorist effort. MORE

Feb. 20, 2015

David Brooks argues that Western leaders, including Pres Obama in his speech at Summit on Countering Violent Extremism, misunderstand fundamental motives that drive Islamic extremists; holds militants are motivated not only by lack of economic opportunity, but by theological conviction and quest for recognition; holds that healthier form of inspiration, whether religious or nationalistic, must be provided to them. MORE

Feb. 19, 2015

Pres Obama calls on government, community, religious and education leaders in America and around the globe to fight against 'violent extremism' propagated by Islamic State and other terrorist groups; White House markets speech as rallying cry, but many leaders and officials remain skeptical that American government's efforts can counter growing influence of Islamic State, particularly in its effective use of social media to recruit young people. MORE

Feb. 19, 2015

Pres Obama's reference to terrorist extremist groups favors bland, generic terms over words like Muslim, Islamic, or jihadist, particularly during his high-profile White House speech in which he called on world to fight 'violent extremism'; while his aides say these words are used to show he is not maligning entire Muslim world, critics argue that such evasive vocabulary projects image of America and its leadership as uncertain and weak. MORE

Feb. 19, 2015

Family and friends of Islam Yaken, young Egyptian man who renounced his life to join Islamic State in 2013, are struggling to understand what led to his decision; Yaken had been raised in Cairo in middle-class family that never condoned violence or murder; his story highlights larger trend threatening both Muslim nations and West as thousands of young men volunteer to become foot soldiers for Islamist extremist groups. MORE

Feb. 19, 2015

Military appeals court overturns terrorism conviction of Australian David Hicks, who was detained at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for years, accused of training with Al Qaeda; sentenced to nine months in prison in 2007, Hicks's case was one of few successes of the tribunal structure at Guantanamo, and decision is another setback for the system. MORE

Feb. 19, 2015

Abid Naseer, accused terrorist who is representing himself in federal trail, cross-examines government witness Najibullah Zazi, who has admitted to working with Al Qaeda; seeks to undermine government assertion that Naseer and Zazi are close acquaintances who plotted together in failed coordinated attacks in London, New York and Denmark. MORE

Feb. 18, 2015

French government continues to review gaps in surveillance that resulted in Paris terrorist attacks by Said and Cherif Kouachi and Amedy Coulibaly; French intelligence has long been considered among best in world, but Charlie Hebdo attack has caused debate about quality of European intelligence gathering. MORE

Feb. 18, 2015

State Department issues new rules for international export of armed drones, move that attempts to keep American lead in fast-growing market; use of weapon is likely to increase in fight against terrorism. MORE

Feb. 18, 2015

Trial of accused Al Qaeda operative Abid Naseer begins in Federal District Court in Brooklyn, despite unresolved logistical problems having to do with his choice to represent himself; Judge Raymond J Dearie, weighing security concerns against Naseer's legal rights, must decide how defendant will be able to review evidence and witness testimony from inside jail. MORE

Feb. 17, 2015

Roger Cohen Op-Ed column rejects notion of uncoupling fundamentalist Islam from terrorist attacks like one in Denmark; warns that amounts to empty talk that threatens efforts to combat metastasizing Islamist movement; underscores how vague descriptions of the roots of problem hobbles brave Muslims who are speaking out against jihadists, same brave people who are the only ones who can counteract appeal of groups like Islamic State. MORE

Feb. 17, 2015

Omar Abdel Hamid el-Hussein, Danish man who died in battle with police following two suspected shootings in Copenhagen, does not fit typical profile of Islamic fundamentalist; Hussein, who belonged to gang that identified more with outsiderism than religion, is instead described as intelligent and angry young man who harbored growing rage against Denmark's liberal society. MORE

Feb. 16, 2015

Danish citizens are deeply shaken by terrorist attacks on cafe and synagogue in Copenhagen, which led to three killed, including suspect, in worst incident since 1980s; authorities determine that man behind attacks, identified by Danish news media as 22-year-old Omar Abdel Hamid El-Hussein, shares traits with other European terrorist attackers, including criminal record and move from street crime to Islamic extremism. MORE

Feb. 15, 2015

Police in Copenhagen shoot and kill man believed to be behind two separate shooting attacks at cafe and synagogue that left two people dead; violence comes amid increasingly anxious atmosphere in Europe, and gives rise to flood of anti-Muslim indictments on Twitter despite fact shooter's motive remains unclear; some suspect Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks, who is under police protection, may have been target of cafe attack. MORE

Feb. 14, 2015

Islamist militant group Boko Haram, whose members have killed thousands in their home country of Nigeria, has spread into Chad, attacking a village there that was home to Nigerian refugees; group has also lodged attacks in nearby Cameroon and Niger. MORE

Feb. 12, 2015

Belgian judge rules that Sharia4Belgium, group accused of recruiting fighters for Syria, is terrorist organization and sentences group leader Fouad Belkacem to 12-year prison term; ruling reflects European struggle to determine how best to combat home-grown extremism. MORE

Feb. 11, 2015

Australian police arrest two men in Sydney suburb on suspicion of intent to carry out imminent terrorist attack. MORE

Feb. 11, 2015

United States designates Denis Cuspert, former German gang member and rapper, as global terrorist for allegedly promoting Islamic State. MORE

Feb. 11, 2015

Terrorist attacks in France have placed increased focus on role of teachers in instilling moral and civic values and respect for rule of law; teachers call task difficult one that should be shared by individual families and culture at large; of particular focus are debates regarding respect for religious faith and freedom to criticize religion. MORE

Feb. 8, 2015

Profile of Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who has been forced into spotlight after terrorist attack on French newspaper Charlie Hebdo; insiders say since attacks, Hidalgo has remained the same tireless and ambitious politician even as she embraced her new role of 'comforter in chief' to city. MORE

Feb. 6, 2015

David Brooks Op-Ed column holds that worst way to respond to assailants, whether in relatively safe world of Internet comments or in dangerous realm of international terrorism, is to match them with equal amounts of ego-driven violence; advocates rising above vicious cycle and looking at bigger picture; contends that many of history's most admired figures are those who have broken chain of attack and counterattack. MORE

Feb. 5, 2015

Officials report that Moussa Coulibaly, man accused of stabbing three soldiers guarding Jewish center in Nice, France, had been questioned by counterterrorism authorities days before attack and had been known to police for years; attack raises concerns about security procedures in country made anxious by assault on newspaper Charlie Hebdo. MORE

Feb. 4, 2015

Former Al Qaeda operative Zacarias Moussaoui, providing in testimony from federal supermax prison in Colorado, says prominent members of Saudi Arabia's royal family were major supporters of and donors to terrorist group in late 1990s; says he talked to Saudi Embassy staffer about plan to shoot down Air Force One with Stinger missile. MORE

Feb. 4, 2015

Political maneuvering begins in Japan in wake of beheadings of two Japanese hostagers by Islamic State; Prime Min Shinzo Abe requests eased legal restrictions on mlitary, enabling it to take part in police actions overseas; he also suggests amending Constitution to protect its citizens abroad. MORE

Feb. 3, 2015

Places like Paris suburb of Clichy-Sous-Bois offer clearest example of how French ideals of democracy and multiculturalism are butting up against growing immigrant Muslim population that feels ostracized and discriminated against; in wake of Charlie Hebdo attacks, France has been engaged in debate about how to promote French Republican values like secularism. MORE

Feb. 3, 2015

New York City Police Commissioner William C Bratton announces plans for reorganization of department, including the establishment of new, separate police units to handle protests and antiterrorism duties. MORE

Jan. 31, 2015

Canadian Prime Min Stephen Harper announces expansion of spy service's powers, citing need for increased vigilance following attacks by radical Islamists; some legal experts have questioned constitutionality of bill, which allows courts to censor online postings and increases scope of police detentions. MORE

Jan. 31, 2015

Federal Judge Lewis A Kaplan, presiding over Manhattan trial of Khaled al-Fawwaz for his role in 1998 Al Qaeda bombings of American embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, rejects defense lawyers' request to bar testimony from government witnesses. MORE

Jan. 30, 2015

Reports that French police have questioned 8-year-old Muslim boy in Nice who made comment supporting perpetrators of terrorist attacks around Paris are sparking debate over whether country is taking its attempts to combat extremism too far; questioning of boy and similar incidents have alarmed some civil liberties advocates. MORE

Jan. 30, 2015

New York City Police Commissioner William J Bratton outlines initiatives aimed at giving police officers more time to talk with and address concerns of community members, and for acquisition of high-powered weapons for anti-terrorism unit; dual goals point to dissonance between desire to give force more human face and rising fear of violence by independent assailants. MORE

Jan. 29, 2015

Document leaked by Edward J Snowden shows that electronic spying agency Communications Security Establishment Canada examines 10 million to 15 million electronic uploads daily as part of antiterrorism effort carried out in conjunction with United States and other allies; agency refuses to confirm existence of project. MORE

Jan. 28, 2015

French police say they have arrested five people suspected of jihadist activity after raiding town of Lunel; say arrests are part of counterterrorism efforts after attacks in and around Paris. MORE

As officials around the world grapple with the emerging security concerns posed by the Islamic State, the New York case provides one of the first public examples of how officials in the United States are approaching the threat.